| Self-catering holidays are ever popular, especially in a | | | | - Is a car advisable/public transport? |
| recession when you are counting the pennies, for | | | | - Clarify anything not already made clear in the |
| obvious reasons. Hotels are easy to grade and book, | | | | advert: What is not included in the price? Is the pool |
| but are much more expensive and you have less | | | | available on that date? Check-in/check-out times |
| freedom to do your own thing, especially with a | | | | flexibility? Deposit, cancellation, refund and payment |
| family. | | | | policies? End-of-stay cleaning policy? Pets allowed? |
| Can you easily step outside for a smoke (some of us | | | | etc. |
| still do!)? Can you watch the kids when they run | | | | - Request photos of rooms not shown in the advert. |
| outside to play? Having said that, you should be | | | | |
| prepared to do some work to make sure you find a | | | | - Ask if the owner has a personal website of the |
| suitable property with the right conditions and that | | | | property. |
| you trust the owner. | | | | - Ask for testimonials from previous renters, if not |
| Unless you already know the rental property you are | | | | shown in the advert. |
| interested in, like from recommendations, friends or | | | | - Who will greet you with the keys and collect these |
| relatives, the best way to find your ideal holiday | | | | from you when you leave? |
| home is to look for websites that specialise in listing | | | | - Will there be a local contact to speak to in your |
| holiday rental properties. Find one that is easy to | | | | language (or a mobile phone number to call) if there |
| search without adverts and other clutter there to | | | | are any problems? |
| confuse you, with advert pages that describe | | | | - Will there be contact details for maintenance staff |
| properties clearly, shows availability and provides | | | | and local emergency services? |
| owner contact details (not a contact form that | | | | - Will an agreement covering the rental terms and |
| provides the website with a lot of your details). It | | | | conditions be sent to me? |
| should be a pleasant experience, not a heavy-going | | | | After these discussions, you should have a good idea |
| one. | | | | of the integrity of the owners and if you are happy |
| You should look for a website, that allows you to | | | | to pay a deposit. Make sure that anything agreed is |
| select what you want (location, type of property, | | | | sent to you in writing (either by letter or by email) to |
| number of bedrooms, disabled access, etc), taking | | | | avoid later misunderstandings. This may be in the |
| you to a list of properties meeting these criteria, | | | | form of a rental agreement. |
| then to the individual property advert pages, which | | | | When you have decided to go for it, you can discuss |
| include attractive galleries of photos and interactive | | | | such things as how to get to the property - the |
| maps of the areas around the properties. | | | | owner may have an arrangement for airport |
| When you have found a property you may like to | | | | transfers and will have local knowledge of the best |
| rent and it is available, you should contact the owners | | | | deals for taxis, hire cars and public transport. |
| directly (either by email initially or by phone). The | | | | In summary, speak directly with the owner and ask |
| following is an aid memoir for things to address when | | | | all the above questions, make sure all the details are |
| you talk to them: | | | | clear, decide if you trust the owner and get all the |
| - Adjacent properties? | | | | important details in writing before you pay that |
| - Distances to amenities and activities? | | | | deposit. |